Drug abuse is becoming a big worry for a town’s residents after another big find of hypodermic needles in their neighbourhood.
For the second time in as many weeks, Montrose people have told the Courier about disturbing finds of needles near children’s play areas.
They were found on Tuesday by a worried resident of Riverside Road. The man, who asked not to be named, said: ”The needles were strewn across the road at Riverside Road, near one of the lockups.
”This is a busy road and people are coming back and forward here all the time for business, as well as the residents.
”I am worried in case anyone thinks this is a ‘good area’ to set up in to take drugs, right as you come into a nice place like Montrose. There are children living here.”
A police spokeswoman said officers went to the area described and found needles near a shed.
”These needles were capped and appeared not to have been used,” she added. ”The officers disposed of the needles safely and then made door-to-door inquiries of properties along the road.
”We would ask anyone in the vicinity of disused or potentially unsafe buildings to exercise caution.
”Should any member of the public encounter any suspect materials, please call us on 0300 111 2222 or speak to any officer to resolve the issue.”
Emma Laidlaw, one of the parents involved in a recent incident where children found drug-taking equipment at a derelict building by Victoria Bridge, said she found the development disturbing.
”It is worrying to hear of more needles being found in Montrose,” she said. ”It’s right across town from where we found the needles before, but maybe that just means it’s a wider problem.
”These things don’t get talked about enough, so we might not know there is an issue unless we discuss it.”
An Angus Council spokeswoman said: ”Members of the public who find discarded needles or other drugs-related objects should not attempt to dispose of these themselves, but should report the finding to Angus Council’s access line on 08452 777778.
”The council will arrange for safe and prompt disposal of these items.”
Families in the town previously met emergency services to discuss their concerns after the find near Victoria Bridge.
Emma Laidlaw and Vicky Kennedy discovered the needle at a disused office block. The worried mums called for the meeting after fears their children may have been cut.
They say youngsters need to be made aware of the dangers presented by discarded needles. They found the needle on the floor below a window which their children had been using to climb into the building.